The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted about N800 billion of public funds for political and campaign activities.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, filed last week, SERAP is asking the court to order INEC to investigate claims that APC governors made monthly deductions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations into a campaign fund allegedly created to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The rights group in a statement on Sunday also request the court to compel INEC to obtain full disclosure from the APC and the affected governors on the alleged campaign contributions, including details of donors and the lawful sources of the funds.
Additionally, SERAP wants the electoral commission to commence a comprehensive review of compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act by political parties and candidates, particularly regarding campaign financing and the sources of political donations.
The organisation argued that the allegations, if left unchecked, could undermine transparency in political funding, electoral fairness and Nigerians’ constitutional right to freely participate in democratic governance.
According to SERAP, opaque campaign financing creates opportunities for corruption, weakens public confidence in the electoral process and threatens democratic legitimacy.
The suit, filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, maintained that the reported diversion of public resources poses a serious threat to the integrity of the 2027 general elections.
It argued that the scale of the alleged financial contributions, combined with insufficient transparency and oversight, provides sufficient grounds for INEC to activate its constitutional and statutory powers to investigate political financing.
SERAP further contended that Nigeria’s political finance system is characterised by weak disclosure requirements and inadequate enforcement, creating room for the misuse of public funds for partisan purposes.
The group cited Section 91 of the Electoral Act, which empowers INEC to regulate political donations, require disclosure of campaign contributions and impose sanctions on political parties or individuals who exceed prescribed donation limits.
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Under the law, political parties that receive donations above the approved threshold are liable to a fine of up to N10 million and forfeiture of the excess funds, while individuals who exceed the legal donation limit face penalties amounting to five times the excess contribution.
SERAP argued that allegations involving the possible use of state resources for political campaigns fall squarely within INEC’s constitutional responsibility to ensure transparent, fair and credible elections.
The organisation also relied on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which require transparency, accountability and fairness in the management of public resources and electoral processes.
According to the group, any deployment of public funds to gain political advantage would amount to a violation of both domestic and international legal obligations and could distort the electoral process.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.